Application Deadline: June 29, 2026, 11:59 PM (Pacific/Niue)
Applications are now open for the 2026 EJN Biodiversity Fellowships. This opportunity is designed to enable journalists from low- and middle-income countries to cover the negotiations, and ensure crucial findings, decisions and outcomes are available and accessible to audiences beyond conference walls.
The fellowship will strengthen and deepen journalists’ reporting on biodiversity issues and draw attention to the widespread, catastrophic and often underreported impacts of biodiversity depletion.
Eligibility
To be eligible for the fellowship, the applicant must:
- Be a professional journalist from or representing an established media house and reporting from a low- or middle-income country as classified by the World Bank.
- Have previous experience reporting on biodiversity issues and clearly indicate the kinds of stories you might pursue while covering the conference.
- Be available and willing to travel to Yerevan to attend COP17 in person, arriving on October 17 and departing no earlier than October 31, 2026.
- Have a good command of the English language
- Share an up-to-date resume/CV
- Provide a letter of support from an editor, producer, or supervisor who can confirm that your news reports will be published or broadcast in an established media outlet. Freelancers are welcome to apply but must provide a letter of support from a media outlet for which they intend to report.
- Provide recent, relevant and journalistic work samples on biodiversity topics, which can be uploaded as documents or web links. Stories can be in any language as long as they are accompanied by a short English synopsis. Clips must focus on biodiversity topics and should have been published in the last 12 months.
Note: You’ll be asked to upload these supporting documents once you start the application process, so please have them handy.
Benefits
Fellowship logistics
- Fellows will travel to Yerevan to attend the full duration of the conference, which will take place from October 19-30, 2026, with arrival planned for October 17, and departure on October 31.
- EJN will cover non-refundable economy-class airfare, accommodation, meals, travel medical insurance and ground transportation costs related to fellowship participation. Organizers will also facilitate the press accreditation process and provide logistical support relating to the trip. Please note that the process of obtaining any necessary visas is the fellow’s individual responsibility, though EJN will reimburse visa costs.
- A minimum of 10 journalists will be selected through this call for the in-person fellowship; arrangements for a larger cohort may be made in the coming months.
- Prior to the start of COP17, fellows will receive informational resources and technical support to help prepare for reporting at the conference, including a pre-COP virtual workshop to meet the team, discuss reporting opportunities, and ask any questions to support your pre-reporting and preparatory work.
For More Information:
Visit the Official Webpage of the EJN Biodiversity Fellowships
